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(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1'.

LE. WOLFE, I .MATGH MAKING MACHINE. No. 535,041. P tented Mair. 5,1895.

FI'GJ- ln egin (No Model.) T 3 SheetsSheet 2.

v L. H. WOLFE;

MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

No. 535,041. v Patented Mar. 5, 1895.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-eSheet B.

L. H. WOLFE. MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 5, 1895;

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UNTTED STATns PATENT @Trrcn.

LEVI H. WOLFE, OF LEBANON PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOMATCH-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,041, dated March 5,1895.

Application filed February 24, 1894. Serial No. 5011 (N m To aZZ whom itmay concern:

Be it knownthat I, LEVI H. l/VOLFE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Match-Making Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to match making machines; and it has for itsobject to provide a to new and useful machine of this character, whichshall possess simple and efficient means for completing the manufactureof a match at one single operation.

To this end the main and primary object [5 of the invention is toprovide a match making machine which shall comprise a series ofmechanisms of a simple and effective type for cutting the match splintsfrom the veneer strips, conveying the splint over the proper devices forheating and coating the same with the usual preparations, and finallydrying the fulminate head which has been placed on the splint anddelivering the thus completed match to a convenient point for. boxing.

With these and other objects in View, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore 0 fully described,illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure l is a side elevation of a completematch making machine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig.2 is a top plan View 5 thereof. Fig. 3isacentral vertical longitudinalsectional view of the machine. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectionalview at one side of the feeding end of the endless splint carryingchain. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse 4o sectional view on the line m-xof Fig. 2. Fig.

6 is an enlarged detail in perspective of asection of the endlesssplintcarryiug chain. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail elevation of asection of the chain showing the same as it passes 5 around theuppermost chain wheels on the drying frame. Fig. 8 is a similar viewshowing the chain as it passes around one of the wheels on the dryingframe. Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of one of the knife-blades of 5c thecutter rollers. Figure 10 isa detail in perspective of acompleted matchsplint showing the fulminatenotch.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a horizontalmachine frame suitably supported at the proper plane on the 5 legs orstandards B, and at one end of said frame are arranged the devices forcutting the veneer strip into match splints of the usual size, and atthis end of the frame is arrange an off-standing bracket 0 disposed atan upward angle and carrying at its upper outer end the drum or rollerD, on which is mounted a roll of veneer E. The roll of veneer E, isformed of a veneer strip of the width that match sticks or splints areusually cut from, whereby uniform lengths of splints may be cut, and theveneer strip from'the roll E, in the present machine is first passedover the lower cutter roller F, journaled in suitable hearings on top ofthe frame A, near one end thereof and adapted to be driven by suitablebelting from any suitable motive power.

the periphery thereof with a series of longi- 7 tudinal cutter blades orknives f, spaced apart the proper distance to cut the proper width ofsplint, and projected from the periphery of the roller so as to not outentirely through the veneer strip which is passed thereover, and thestrip of veneer is held onto the knives of the lower cutter roller F, bymeans of the upper combined pressure and feed roller G, arrangeddirectly above the roller F, and having its spindle eXtremities mountedin suitable bearingsg, arranged on top of the opposite side frames 9',projected above opposite sides of the main machine frame A. As theveneer strip passes between the rollers F and G, the same is cut fromits under side to a depth not equaling the thickness of the strip, andthese incisions are made at regularly spaced distances apart which arethe widths of the splints to be formed, and in this condition the stripis 5 fed along to a second upper cutter roller F. The second cutterroller F, is journaled in suitable hearings on top of the opposite sideframes g, directly in advance of the upper pressure roller G, and isadaptedto work di- I00 rectly over the flat feed table H, supported in ahorizontal position between the opposite side frames g, and leadingfroma point from where the Veneer strip issues from between the rollersF and G, and the said roller F, is also provided upon its periphery witha series of longitudinal cutter blades or knives f, which are spacedapart the same distance as the blades or knives on the roller F, and areadapted to cut into the veneer strip from the top thereof, and directlyin line with the incisions made by the lower cutter rollers so as toentirely separate the splints from the strip.

The several rollers are properly geared together in any suitable mannerso that the cut of the blades or knives on the upper cutter roller willbe coincident with the under cuts of the lower roller, and therebyprovide means whereby the upper cutter roller will complete the cut madeby the blades or knives of the lower cutter roller and will complete thematch sticks or splints.

The horizontal flat feed table I'I,which is disposed directly under theupper cutter roller extends beyond said upper cutter rdller to a pointnear one end of the side frames g, and is provided at one side and endbeyond the said upper cutter roller with acut-away portion it, at theside of which cut-away portion is located a pair of endless feed beltsh. The pair of endless feed belts h, are arranged to move side by sideover the opposite belt rollers h jonrnaled in the opposite side frames9', and one of which is suitably geared to the other gear devices of themachine to impart motion to such belts to serve to hold the completedmatch splints flat on the horizontal feed table II, and to assist inmoving the same out toward one end of said feed table to bring one endof the splints directly over the cut-away end portion 72, of the saidfeed table.

At a point slightly below the plane of the feed table II, and includedin the space of the cut-away portion h,is jonrnaled an angular chainwheel I, which is preferably square with four corners, and is designedto accommodate for movement thereover the endless splint carrying chainJ, which is adapted to grip each separate splint fed along the feedtable and to carry such splint through the several stages of completionto the delivering end of the machine as will be more fully described.The said angular chain wheel I, is of course jonrnaled at one side ofand within the main frame of the machine and receives edgewise thereonthe endless splint carry ing chain J, which consists of the jointedlinks K, pivotally joined or connected with each other at their ends asat 70. The jointed links K, of the endless chain comprise the separatejaws or link plates lo, overlapping each other at their adjacent endsand pivotally connected at the center of such ends as at k so that thelinks will have an open and shut movement for gripping the matchsplints.

One of the link jaws or plates is provided at one side and near one edgewith the notched grip lug L, which is disposed in the same circle ofmovement as and directly opposite to the angular splint notch Z, formedin the inner end of the other link jaw or plate pivoted thereto, andwhen these two link jaws or plates are in alignment, the space betweenthe lug L, and the notch Z, will be closed sufficiently to hold therein,by one end, amatch splint, so that such match splint may be carried fromone end of the machine to the other, and these link jaws or plates arenormally held in their closed position by means of the small closingsprings Z, connected respectively at their ends to each of said jaws orplates. The jointed links K, completed by the link jaws or plates justdescribed, are further provided at their ends with the inclined orbeveled corners Z which complete with the corresponding incline or bevelof the adjacent links, V-shaped notches or depressions which fit theteeth of the chain wheels over which the chain passes and which will bemore particularly referred to, but as illustrated in the drawings, Whenthe chain passes over the wheel I, the angles or points of such wheelbear directly under or against the then inner edge of the chain links ata central point directly in line with the pivot 70 so as to spread oropen the link jaws at their then upper edges and separate the notch Z,from the lugs L, sufficiently to admit one end of a match splint. As theendless chain passes around the chain wheel I, with the jaws thereofopen at their gripping edges as just described, the match splints aresuccessively and separately engaged by the lower notched edge of thekicker or feed lever M. The kicker or feed lever M, is arranged at anangle and is adapted to be given a vibratory or reciprocating movementby the crank wheel m, suitably jonrnaled on one of the side frames 9,and geared with the other feeding devices of the machine. The lowernotched edge of the kicker or feed lever M, is adapted to move againstone end of the first match splint disposed over the cut-away portion h,of the feed table, and forces the end of said match splint in betweenthe gripping ends of the link jaws or plates of that link which haspassed into a position for the reception ota splint, and at about themoment the kicker or feed lever has receded from the match splint, thatportion of the chain including the link just fed will straighten outabove the chain Wheel I, and close onto the match splint, which is thenheld in the link until released in the manner to be presently described,and every link of the chain is fed in the same manner. The gearingdevices are so timed as to insure an uninterrupted operation such asdescribed.

Between the inner end of the side frames g, to a point at a distancebeyond one end of the main frame A, the jointed links of the endlesschain J, are guided to move in the grooved chain track N. The track N,is suitably supported at one side of the machine frame A, at a planeabove the same and is provided with a longitudinal groove n, agreeingwith the width of the overlapped link members of the endless splintcarrying chain J, so as to carry and guide the said chain at the properangle and said track end is further provided in the groove thereof witha series of anti-friction rollers, as illustrated in the drawings. At apoint just beyond the inner chain wheel I, where the endless chain isfed with the match splints, the grooved track is turned to or disposedin substantially a horizontal position, so as to dispose the matchsplints in a substantially upright position with their ungripped endsdownward, and in this position the lower ends of the match splints arecarried over a fiat-top heating stove 0, arranged within the machineframe and providing means for heating the lower ends of the matchsplints sufficiently to insure the proper adhesion of the substances inwhich the same are dipped, and the said match splints are arranged topass over the top of the stove O, in slight contact therewith. Afterpassing over the flat top stove O, the heated ends of the match splintsare carried through or dipped into a pan or vessel 0, containing a bathof paraffine, with which the strike end of a match is first coated inall ordinary processes of making matches, and the ends of the splintsare dipped into and lifted out of the parafline bath by reason of adownward curve or sweep 0' being given to the track N, at a pointdirectly over the pan or vessel containing the paraffiue. The splintcarrying chain continues to carry the matchsplints in a verticalposition beyond the paraffine bath and directly onto and over thefulminate roller P. The fulminate roller P, is mounted on a suitableshaft journaled in the tub p, arranged within the frame A, near one endthereof, and this shaft is geared with other parts of the machine in anysuitable manner so as to carry the fulminate roller at substantially thesame speed as the chain J. The

tub 10, is adapted to contain the usual fulminate mixture, which iscontinually agitated or stirred up by the winged or bladed stirrer p,arranged on the shaft of the roller at one side of the latter and alsoturning in the tub.

The fulminate roller P, is made of any suitable material suited for thepurpose, and as it passes through the fulminate mixture necessarilyaccumulates a coating of the fulminate, which the paraffine coated matchsplints pick up as the same pass over the roller in contact therewith,and the thickness of the fulminate coating on the roller P, may beregulated by means of a suitable gage or scraper blade p arranged withinthe fulminate tub at one side of said roller.

The endless splint carrying chain carries the splints in such a positiondirectly over the fulminate roller as to allow such splints to collect asufficient quantity of fulminate on theirlower ends, and after leavingthe fulminate roller the chain and splints are carried over the dryingframe R.

The drying frame B, may be of. any desired width according to the lengthof time which it is necessary to have the splints on the drying frame toallow the fulminate to dry, and the track N, extends nearly to the sideof the drying frame beyond one end of the frame A, and before reachingsuch side of the drying frame is turned to an upward disposition as atr, to dispose the match splints in substantially an upright positionwhich is most favorable for the even settling of the fulminate aroundthe splint end, and to prevent the fulminate from running out into longheads.

The completed matches are carried a number of times transversely backand forth across the drying frame from the lower portion to the topthereof, and at opposite sides of the drying frame are journaled theopposite sets of chain wheels or pulleys S and S, which are providedwith the pointed teeth or cogs s, to register in the V-shaped notches ordepressions formed at the beveled corners Zflof the chain links, and byreason of engaging between the ends of the links in these notches ordepressions, the link jaws or plates are prevented from opening anddropping their matches. Both of the wheels or pulleys S and S, areprovided with peripheral flanges s, to hold the chain thereon, while thelatter set of wheels S, are provided with match notches 8 in theirflanges to admit the matches which are disposed next to the peripheriesof these wheels as the splint chain passes thereover.

From theupper part of the drying frame the chain J, passes over anangular or squared chain wheel 1', similar to the chain wheel I, locatedat the feeding end of the chain. The chain wheel I, is journaled at oneside of a frame extension T, disposed at one end of the drying frame R,and is adapted to have the points or corners thereof engage the chain ata central pointof its jointed links so as to cause the link jaws orplates to open and release the matches from their grip, and at themoment the matches are thus released the same are carried downward ontothe delivery table U, by means of the parallel contacting deliveryaprons or belts V.

The delivery aprons or belts V, are arranged to work at an angle oversuitably arranged belt rollers '22, which are given motion inanysuitable manner. The said delivery aprons or belts extend above theplane of the releasing wheel 1 and are arranged with their innerportions traveling in contact with each other so that the said beltssecure a purchase or grip on the matches before the chain releases itsgrip on the same, and by this means the completed matches are fed ordelivered onto the table U, inconvenient shape for gathering and boxing.7

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to Without departing from the principle, or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention, and at this point moreparticular attention is directed to the specific construction of thecutter blades or knives of both the upper and lower cutter rollers, andby reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings, it will be seen that the cutterblades or knives are provided at or near one end with an angular knifeoff-set W", the projection of which is not so long as the width of thematch splint, and as the veneer strip passes between the cutter rollers,the off-sets W, necessarily make an incision conforming to theconfiguration thereof and thereby cut an angular fulminate notch X, inone edge of the match splint Y, as shown in Fig. 10, of the drawings. Byreason of cutting a fulminate notch in one end of the match splint, thefulminate which is placed on that end of the splint is caused to be heldmore firmly to the splint and is prevented from flying off when thematch is struck, which is very common in most matches.

The gearing for the several working parts of the machine is clearlyillustrated in the drawings and needs no other reference, but in regardto the gearing for the endless splint carrying chain, I preferablycommunicate motion thereto by means of a supplemental drive chain 20,passing over chain wheels 21, mounted at one end of the shafts carryingthe chain wheels S, on the drying frame, and this chain 20, is drivenfrom a wheel 22 which is suitably geared with a drive chain 23, which isemployed to communicate motion to certain parts of the machine, butitwill of course be understood that this particular gearing forms no partof the present invention but may be changed at will.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the machineframe having a holder at one end for the support of a veneer strip; anda horizontal feed table provided with a cut away portion at one end alower cutter roller journaled on the frame near one end and providedwith a series of longitudinal cutter blades or knives, a combinedpressure and feed roller arranged directly over the lower cutter roller,a second upper cutter roller arranged in rear of the upper pressureroller over said feed table and also provided with a series oflongitudinal cutter blades or knives adapted to cut into the veneerstrips from the top to make incisions coincident and meeting with thoseformed by the blades or knives of the lower roller in the under side ofsaid strip, and an endless splint carrying chain arranged to have oneend located at a point included in the space of said cut away portion ofthe feed table substantially as set forth.

2. Ina match making machine, the combination with the machine framehaving a holder at one end for the support of a veneer roll; of a lowersplint cutting roller journaled on the frame, a pressure roller arrangeddirectly over the lower cutter roller, a horizontal feed table arrangedat one side of these two rollers, a second upper cutter roller arrangedover said table, and an endless splint carrying chain working from theouter end of said feed table, substantially as set forth.

3. In a match making machine, the frame, a horizontal feed tablearranged on said frame near one end, upper and lower cutter rollersjournaled on said frame and one of which works over said table, a feedbelt arranged to work over said table beyond one side of the u ppercutter roller, an endless splint carrying chain arranged to work beyondsaid table, and a chain feeding device for feeding the splints to saidchain, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with ahorizontal feed table having a cut away portion at one end, splint cutting devices arranged to deliver on said feed table, apair of endlessfeed belts arranged horizontally over the table in advance of thecutting devices and adapted to move the splints over said cut awayportion, a jointed splint carrying chain arranged to have its feedingend located at a point included in the space of said cut away portion,and a vibrating kicker or feed lever adapted to move the splint endsfrom over said cut away portion into engagement with said chain,substantially as set forth. v

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with thesuitably arranged baths and cutting devices; of the horizontal feedtable adapted to receive the splints from the cutting devices andprovided with a cut away portion at one end, a pair of horizontalendless feed belts moving over said table at one side of said cut awayportion, oppositely arranged angular chain wheels one of which islocated in the space of the cut away portion of said feed table, ajointed splint carrying chain arranged to move over said chain wheelsand to be opened thereby, and a vibrating kicker or feed lever arrangedto engage the match splints at the cut away portion of the feed tableand to move the same in engagement with the jointed chain as the same isopened by the angular chain wheel adjacent thereto, substantially as setforth.

6. In a match making machine, the combination with the suitably arrangedbaths and cutting devices; of an endless splint carrying chainconsisting of pivotally jointed two-part links each comprising twopivoted overlapping link jaws or plates having single angular opposinggripping notches in their connected ends, one edge of said links beingadapted to be engaged at a central point directly in line with theirpivots by the points or angles of suitably arranged angular or squaredchain wheels located at the feeding and delivering ends of said chain,substantially as set forth.

ITO

7. In a match making machine, the combination with the splint cuttingdevices and suitable baths; of the endless splint carrying.

chain consisting of two-part links pivotally connected at their ends andeach comprising two overlapping link jaws or plates centrally pivotedtogether at their overlapped ends, and one of which is provided with alaterally offstanding notched grip lug and the overlapping ends of theother of which is provided with a splint notch opposed to said laterallyoE-standing lug, closing springs connected at their ends to theoverlapping ends of the jaws or plates of each link to normally closethe same, and link opening wheels located at the feeding and deliveringends of said chain to open the jaws thereof, substantially as set forth.

8. In a matchmaking machine, the combination with the splint cuttingdevices, suitable baths and a drying frame; of opposite sets of chainwheels or pulleys journaled at opposite sides of said drying frame andprovided with pointed teeth or cogs and peripheral side flanges, one setof said wheels being further provided with match notches in theirflanges, an endless splint carrying chain having jointed gripping linksleading from the cutting devices over said baths, the links of saidchain being provided at their ends with inclined or beveled cornerscompleting with the adjacent links V-shaped notches or depressions tofit over the pointed teeth or cogs of the wheels on the drying frame,and link opening wheels located at the feeding and delivery ends of saidchain, substantially as set forth.

9. In a match making machine, the combination with the frame; of a flattop heating stove arranged on the frame, an adjacent pan or vesselcontaining a bath of paraffine, a suitably arranged fulminate tublocated beyond the paraffine bath, a fulminate roller mounted to turn insaid tub and carrying at one side a stirrer or agitator, and an endlesssplint carrying chain guided to move in a substantially horizontalposition over the stove, the pan, and tub, to dispose the match splintsvertically, substantially as set forth.

10. In a match making machine, the combination with the cutting and bathdevices; of a suitably arranged drying frame having opposite sets ofchain wheels or pulleys, parallel contacting delivery aprons or beltsmounted at one end of the drying frame and arranged above a suitabledelivering table, the endless splint carrying chain arrangedtransversely on the drying frame over the chain wheels or pulleysthereon and having a portion thereof disposed parallel with and at oneedge of the meeting portions of said aprons or belts, and a chain openersuitably arranged to release the matches from said chain, substantiallyas set forth. v

11. In a machine of the class described the splint cutter consisting ofa roller provided with a series of longitudinal cutter blades or kniveshaving knife off-sets at or near one end adapted to form a fulminatenotch, at one edge of the match splint, substantially as set forth.

12. In a match making machine, the splint cutter consisting of a rollerprovided with a series of longitudinal cutter blades or knives havingangular knife off-sets located at or near one end, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afi'ixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEVI H. WOLFE.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. Fox, A. H. RIEGEL.

